LIBE 477B Inquiry Post #4: Libraries supporting girl's education in developing countries - Success in Ghana

 

“We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.” – Malala Yousafzai

Libraries are important part of any society, especially societies in developing countries. Libraries help citizens become educated, informed, and empowered so that they can break the cycle of poverty (Fourie & Meyer, 2016). Globally, girls and women are at greater risk of illiteracy: around 496 million adult women are unable to read or write (two thirds of all illiterate people) and in developing countries, one in four girls do not attend school (UNDP, 2015). When women are able to read, there are lasting benefits: lower infant mortality rates, reduces population growth, reduces infection rates, fewer child marriages, more prepared for natural disasters and climate change, agency, leadership skills, and contributes to economic growth (Nathwani, 2022; TheirWorld, 2022). 

(UNESCO, 2015)

Digital literacy is also an important component to success. UNESCO suggests that “literacy is now understood as a means of identification, understanding, interpretation, creation, and communication in an increasingly digital, text-mediated, information-rich, and fast-changing world” (UNESCO, 2023). When girls have access to digital tools, it can increase their “sense of self, increase civic engagement, raise awareness of their rights, and increase employment opportunities and workforce participation” (Meherali et al., 2021, p. 2). In addition, girls can access sexual and reproductive health support (Meherali et al., 2021). If young girls learn how to use digital technologies, their whole worlds will open with possibility. Access becomes a priority. Currently, 63% of women globally have internet access, with only 25% connected in developing countries (UN Women, 2023).

Source: Youtube

Quality education is one of the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. By 2030, the UN wants to ensure that all girls have access to free, quality education, eliminate gender disparities, increase the number of qualified teachers, and provide ICT learning (UNDP, 2015). More than 90% of jobs worldwide require digital literacy (Plan International, 2023). To increase literacy outcomes for women and girls, programs need to be put in place for equitable access to smartphones and laptops as well as low-cost data and internet plans (UN Women, 2023). 

Source: Global Goals

Solutions:

Governments and policymakers must ensure that future laws and education policies address the inequity and that governments are required to provide technology to their citizens so they can develop their skills. In addition, digital companies and mobile providers should provide the network and infrastructure required as it will benefit everyone long term (SAGG Foundation, 2023). Libraries would be a great place to house the needed infrastructure as they are centres of information and knowledge (IFLA, 2023).

Companies like Starlink can provide high-speed satellite internet to remote areas around the world allowing women to have better access to education. Accessing physical resources is not cost effective, so using the internet allows better equity in available resources. They can access online courses, attend virtual classrooms, and easily find up to date and trustworthy information (Frackiewicz, 2023).

Ghana

One example of a country that has shown that they are taking steps to ensure female empowerment and equality through libraries is Ghana. An affirmative action law was legislated that permitted ten women members to be part of the legislature and as a result more girls are being provided the resources necessary for their success (Atuase, 2018). Academic libraries have partnered with NGOs to provide technological resources and skills training programmes that have allowed women to become self-sufficient (Atuase, 2018). Below is a table of the possible benefits a woman could attain through an academic library.

(Atuase, 2018)

Through the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications and through donations, many public libraries in Ghana were given digital infrastructure. With this infrastructure, EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) used a grant to provide students digital literacy skills, online education resources, and digital learning opportunities through public libraries (EIFL, 2023). 

 

The Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) has 10 mobile library vans that are connected to regional libraries that provide books, computers, and internet access. They have access to 4023 eBooks 13,622 eAudiobooks, 1,212,503 physical books, and 1500 videos. They run reading programs and provide ICT skills training (Ghana Library Authority, 2021). Through the Illumine IT training program, students learn digital skills like internet research, computer basics, how to create a spreadsheet, and graphic design (Ghana Library Authority, 2023). 

Source: Ghana Web

Finally, as shown through this video, e-libraries are provided for girls in rural areas through CAMFED Ghana. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult for girls to learn so smart TV’s and tablets were brought to them to help to learn the skills to be ready for the workforce (CitiTV, 2020).

Source: Facebook

 

The results of the initiatives can be seen in the increased literacy rates of girls from 2000-2020 (% of females ages 15-24).

Source: tradingeconomics.com 

I’m curious how AI will help benefit developing countries in the coming years. As Sal Khan suggested in his TedTalk, AI has the potential to act as a 1-1 tutor. If this becomes available in places like Ghana, student outcomes will continue to increase.

"When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous." Michelle Obama

Technology has such a positive impact when it is used appropriately. As I was seeing how its use benefited girls in Ghana, I thought about its use in my own classroom and in the SLLC. I have a rule in my classroom that they can use their own devices as long as it supports their learning. If it becomes a distraction, it gets taken away. I think it is so important that students be responsible for the use of their devices because it allows them to find the right balance. If we ban them outright, they are not independently learning how to manage their time on their devices. 

References:

Atuase, D. (2018). Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Ghana, the Role of Academic Libraries. Journal of Applied Information Science , 6(2). 

CAMFED Ghana provides e-libraries to support young girls in rural areas. (2020, December 21). Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/CitiTVGH/videos/734969120732787/

DigitALL Gender Equality in Technology | SaGG Foundation. (2023). SPONSOR a GAMBIAN GIRL | GIVE a LIFE | SAGG FOUNDATION. https://www.saggfoundation.org/blog/gender-equality-in-technology-and-innovation#:~:text=Access%20to%20innovation%20and%20technology%20means%20women%20and%20girls%20can,of%20self%20in%20the%20world.

Fourie, I., & Meyer, A. (2016). Role of libraries in developing an informed and educated nation. Library Hi Tech, 34(3), 422–432. https://doi.org/10.1108/lht-01-2016-0009

Frackiewicz, M. (2023, February 24). The Role of Starlink in Empowering Developing Countries. TS2 SPACE. https://ts2.space/en/the-role-of-starlink-in-empowering-developing-countries/

Ghana libraries to broaden educational opportunities for students | EIFL. (2023). Eifl.net. https://www.eifl.net/news/ghana-libraries-broaden-educational-opportunities-students

Ghana Library Authority | Home. (2021). Www.library.gov.gh. https://www.library.gov.gh/assets/brochure/MOBILE%20LIBRARY%20END%20OF%20PROJECT%20REPORT%20-%202021.pdf

Ghana Library Authority | Home. (2023). Library.gov.gh. https://www.library.gov.gh/Readnews?id=b8UDHM

Girls’ education. (2022, August 4). Theirworld. https://theirworld.org/resources/girls-education/?gclid=CjwKCAjwnOipBhBQEiwACyGLujbVgOouaOKhccAY3oNIcheCsRNyJdCWnNHzo2gV1sFCzMNNyYFHNxoCnIMQAvD_BwE

How do libraries further development? (2023). IFLA. https://www.ifla.org/how-do-libraries-further-development/

Meherali, S., Rahim, K. A., Campbell, S., & Lassi, Z. S. (2021). Does Digital Literacy Empower Adolescent Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.761394

Nathwani, K. (2022, March). Why Girls, Why Literacy, Why Now? - World Literacy Foundation. World Literacy Foundation. https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/why-girls-why-literacy-why-now/

Power on: How we can supercharge an equitable digital future | UN Women – Headquarters. (2023, February 24). UN Women – Headquarters. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/explainer/2023/02/power-on-how-we-can-supercharge-an-equitable-digital-future?gclid=CjwKCAjwnOipBhBQEiwACyGLurAyeL4piSuCnIkWJVN_hWFROYfTNvoBKML1vlkIdUTBkx96Xicu7xoCwdoQAvD_BwE

Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations Development Programme. (2015). UNDP. https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals/quality-education?gclid=CjwKCAjwnOipBhBQEiwACyGLuoNNiJsEUZDIcYDuzfe9J_NuDPLNCyY7RehR4t3oknfD-lEkZ8-QbxoCf5gQAvD_BwE

‌What you need to know about literacy. (2023). Unesco.org. https://www.unesco.org/en/literacy/need-know